Nanoparticles are used as additives to modify and control liquid properties and to stabilize foams and emulsions for possible application in the food, cosmetics and materials industries. They are the essential part of ink formulations for 2D and 3D printing and coatings, and very promising carriers for targeted drug delivery. Nanoparticles are incorporated into functional porous materials, designed for applications requiring extremely high surface area enabling high heat and mass transport and chemical reactions rates.
The aim of the nanoPaInt project is a comprehensive understanding and predictive modelling of the properties and dynamics of dense nanosuspensions, which are governed by strong nanoparticles interactions in liquid bulk and at interfaces. The gained knowledge is used to design novel functional smart liquids and solid nanomaterials.
The training aim of nanoPaInt network is to support the career development of young researchers both in academic and non-academic sectors and to train a new generation of creative, mobile, entrepreneurial and innovative early-stage researchers.
Work Package (WP) 1 focuses on the interactions between nanoparticles in liquid bulk and at fluid interfaces, as well as the dynamics of these interactions and their relation to the bulk and surface rheology of nanosuspensions.
WP 2 is focussed on investigation of dynamic interfacial flows which are important for manufacturing and application of functional nanomaterials. This includes the fast elongational flow in liquid bridge, flow of films and sessile drops induced by vibrations and fast spreading under influence of surfactants. In these flows the relation between the time scale of the flow and the time scale of nanoparticles dynamics, including the adsorption/desorption kinetics, plays an important role.
In WP 3, capillary nanosuspensions are being designed and fabricated with the forces between the nanoparticles responding to external stimuli, which allows programming the response of the suspensions to changes in environmental pH, temperature or salinity. Capillary suspensions can also be used as precursors for fabrication of porous ceramic materials.
WP 4 is devoted to development and optimization of routes for manufacturing of novel functional nanomaterials from dense nanosuspensions on the basis of knowledge gained in the previous WPs. We shall demonstrate the applicability of nano-suspensions with controlled properties for manufacturing of functional materials and parts at different scales and shapes: micron-sized supraparticles, printed electronic circuits, porous materials and objects manufactured using 3D-printing process. Their applications include catalysis, gas adsorption, filtration, liquids separation and drug delivery.
Conclusions:
The project delivered new theoretical, computational, and experimental tools for understanding and controlling nanoparticle interactions, interfacial dynamics, and particle laden microstructures. Numerical simulations enable prediction of colloidal interactions and gel evolution. Advanced experimental methods provided frequency dependent interfacial rheology and clarified nanoparticle adhesion mechanisms relevant to dry coated battery electrodes. Non isothermal models for nano suspensions were established and applied to several interfacial flow configurations. Stimuli responsive capillary (nano)suspensions with superior rheology were created and studied. A comprehensive computational and theoretical framework was developed to connect microstructure of capillary (nano)suspensions to rheological properties. New numerical approaches captured nanoparticle assembly during evaporation of nanosuspensions, guiding the fabrication of nanomaterials. Novel routes were developed to synthetize hybride Cu@Ag core@shell nanowires for conductive inks. New protocols were developed for manufacturing Janus supraparticles, porous photocatalytic foams, as well as sol gel–derived silica phosphate nanoparticles, enabling advanced functional materials and printable glass formulations.
